Clasp



W. FISCHER.

CLASP.

APPLICATlON FILED MAR. 2. P922.

1,485,829, IPmf/entefil Nov. 14,1923,

mom/

Patented Nov. 114i, i922.

UNHTED STATIELS WILLIAM FISCHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLASP.

Application filed March 2,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Frsonnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Clasp, of which the following is a description.

My invention is intended more particularly for embodiment in a clasp for a necklace and especially a clasp of the type in which an element usually termed a click is inserted in the body of the clasp and hav ing means to engage a cross bar or equivalent member at the mouth of the body. In clasps of the type referred to the click is generally of U-shape, the legs being resilient tending to expand into engagement with the member or cross bar on the body. A drawback has been that the resiliency of the engaging leg of the click cannot be relied upon to hold it in engagement with the body member so that the click pulls out, thereby unfastening the necklace.

An object of my invention is to provide a clasp assemblage of the indicated type in which the click will have increased resiliency to effectively hold it in engagement with the cross bar on the body, a more specific object being to equip one leg of the click with a resilient member engageable with the other leg of the click at a point and in a manner to eifectively apply the spring pressure in holding the click in engagement on the body.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specr fication, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention. I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a clasp embodying my invention showing the same employed in connection with the ends of a necklace, the click of the clasp being in side elevation and shown in fastened relation;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the click disengaged from the body and ready to be withdrawn therefrom;

Figure 3 is an edge view of the clasp.

In carrying out my invention in the illustrated example a clasp body 10 is provided here shown as lenticular in shape in accordance with known practice in the trade. At one end the body 10 has an eye 11 thereon to which one end portion A of the necklace 1922. Serial No. 540,543..

is connected by suitable means such for eX- ample as a ring 12 passing through the eye 11 and through a link or eye 13 on the chain. end. The end of the body 10 opposite the eye 11 presents an opening leading to the hollow interior o-f'the body and near the open end at opposite sides are cross bars 14, 14a.

The mating element of the clasp or click designated generally by the numeral 15'is made approximately U-shape as usual to present resilient legs. One leg 17 at the outer end has an eye 16 to be fastened to the adjacent end portion A. of the necklace through the medium of an eye or link 13 or other suitable member of the necklace, the mode of fastening the click to the necklace not forming part of the present invention.

The other and slightly shorter leg 17 of the click 15 has a notch 18 on the outer side as is customary to engage the one cross bar 14 of the body when the click is permitted to expand, it being understood that the click is entered by compressing the legs thereof toward each other and then allowing the legs to expand. Notch 18 is a slight distance from the outer end 19 of the fastening leg of the click, said end 19 forming a fingerhold for the convenient insertion of the click into the body and its removal therefrom.

In order to strengthen the click and give an increased holding action of the leg 17 with the member 14. I provide the opposite leg 17 with a tongue 20 integral with said opposite leg between the ends thereof, said tongue extending downward obliquely to ward the fastening leg 17 and in the general direction of the U-bend or bight of the click. In order to prevent a free sliding of the tongue 20 along the leg 17 engaged thereby when the legs are pressed together, 1 form said leg 17 with a shoulder 21 at the inner edge to be engaged by the free end of the tongue 20, the end of the tongue and the opposed surface of the shoulder 21 advantageously being rounded. With the tongue and shoulder thus provided the inherent resiliency of the leg 17 is not relied upon to hold the click in the fastened position, and moreover the tongue 20 by reason of engaging the shoulder 21 effectively applies the spring pressure of the tongue to the arm 17 at a point distant from the U- bend of the click, the pressure being thus more effectively applied than if the tongue Were permitted to freely slide and approach the U-bend. Thus, effective pressing action by the tongue results from the provision of the shoulder 21.

I would state in conclustion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied without departure from-the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A clasp of the class described including a body having an opening at an end thereof, a resilient click generally of lJ-shape, one leg of the click and the adjacent side of the body having co -engaging means, and a tongue integral with one leg and extending therefrom inwardly towardvthe bend of the click to an engagement with the opposite leg, said opposite leg having a shoulder adapted to be engaged by the free end of the tongue.

2. A clasp of the class described including a body having an opening at an end thereof, a resilient click generally of U shape, one leg of the click and the adjacent side of the body having co-engaging means, and a tongue integral with one leg and extending therefrom inwardly toward the bend of the click to an engagement with the, 

